Michael Baker wins contract to reduce road congestion in Dallas

Engineering and consulting services provider Michael Baker International has secured a contract from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in the US to help reduce traffic congestion along the southern gateway corridor for commuting into downtown Dallas.

The southern gateway corridor project is currently under construction and expected to improve safety, reduce congestion and facilitate traffic operations addressing roadway deficiencies and system linkage for the critical I-35E and US 67 artery.

The project will also serve as an additional hurricane evacuation route for the residents.

Michael Baker International Structural Engineering vice-president and director Jorge Suarez said: “The I-35E and US 67 exchange continues to serve as a highly congested roadway for commuters travelling into the Dallas Metro Area, and the southern gateway corridor project represents a large-scale effort to improve transportation in this highly congested urban area.

“The I-35E and US 67 exchange continues to serve as a highly congested roadway for commuters travelling into the Dallas Metro Area.”

“Michael Baker’s construction management expertise, through inspections, audits and testing, will ensure that the project’s design and construction are completed smartly and safely to help the community and region by reducing congestion and making freeways safer.”

As a part of the $4m contract, the company will perform owner verification (OV) tests at a stipulated testing frequency, along with the review and approval of quality assurance (QA) test results.

It will also conduct the statistical analysis of OV and QA test results.

The construction of Southern Gateway Project is expected to be completed in 2021. It includes the addition of reversible non-tolled express lanes with general-purpose lanes to improve capacity in the corridor.

Furthermore, bicycle and pedestrian accommodations are expected to be built where frontage road reconstruction is proposed.